Pattern selecting mechanism



G. H. WHITE Z L PATTERN SELECTING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 30, 1952 s Sheets-Sheet 1 I72 V672 far fff Wife G. H. WHITE zmmw PATTERN SELECTING MECHANISM Filed. Dec. 30, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 f 71 Vii for fz rirf Zfkz'fe Feb M, 136.

mam-M G. H. WHITE PATTERN SELECTING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 50, 1952 I5 Sheets-Shept 3 SN WT,

[if yen/0'2 617472 Wa e Patented Feb. 18, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE PATTERN SELECTING IVIECHANISM I George Herbert White, Hartford, Conn., assignor,

by mesne assignments. to Maoomic Corporation, a corporation of Delaware My invention relates to improvements in pattern selecting mechanism and has for one object to provide a connection between a standard typewriter and a plurality of rockable pattern selecting shutters or plates such as may be used in connection with a type casting or type selecting mechanism.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a light, durable, convenient and accurate connecting apparatus to transmit power from the typewriter to the shutter bed. Another object is to provide a convenient smoothly operating and accurate connection between the typewriter and elements controlled by it so that the typewriter may be replaced or renewed and the device assembled and disassembled without derangement of the essential operating parts. Other objects of the invention will appear from time to time throughout the specification and claims.

My invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically throughout the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation in part section;

Figure 2 is a detail front elevation of the device shown in Figure 1 with parts broken away;

Figure 3 is a section along the line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarg d section along the line 44 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic side elevation of the frame structure at a reduced scale;

Figure 6 is a partial sectional view similar to Figure 1 with parts in different positions.

Like parts are indicated by like characters throughout the specification and drawings.

It will be understood that the apparatus which forms the basis for this application is merely one of the elements in a complicated pattern selecting mechanism adapted for use in connection with type casting and type setting machines but Owing to the complication of the device and the large number of parts involved, I have illustrated in this case only those parts of the mechanism which form the subject matter of this present tern, or to designate certain specific parts or cause certain specific elements to move or to remain at rest.

The machine; of course, comprises a rigid framework A A uprights A A a lower cross member A and an upper cross member A J oining the upper and lower cross members A A and supported on them is a typewriter and shutter bed A which in working position is inclined to the horizontal as indicated. Projecting above this bed, preferably mounted on it and preferably integral with it is a generally horizontal typewriter platform A. The typewriter bed has at either side downwardly extended flanges A upon which the shutters are pivoted and which flanges form with the typewriter bed the shutter bed and also form in effect a closure or housing for the selecting mechanism.

B 'is a typewriter having a plurality of key levers B mounted for rotation about a pivot axis lit and adapted to be guided in their vertical movement by a key bar comb plate B Extending across beneath the typewriter key bars, mounted on the typewriter platform A is a comb plate 13*. Projecting upwardly through the comb plate are a plurality of plungers, push rods or typewriter key extensions B, there being one in register with each key bar B These push rods B5 are pivoted on relatively flat bell crank levers B which are pivoted in the typewriter platform.

Spring B holds the push rods seated in the comb plate 13 tending to rotate them forwardly toward the operator. These push rods are free to move up and down in the comb plate being positioned in the comb plate by the spring B and by their pivotal relation with the levers B so that when the operator pushes down on the key, the lever descends, engages the push rod and causes the bell crank lever B to rotate in a counterclockwise direction as shown in Figure 6. The inner ends of the levers B are provided with a plurality of holes B spaced along the axis of the lever. Diagonal pull rods B extend downwardly from oneof these holes B in engagement with a bell crank lever B pivoted on the shutter bed, holes B being engaged by the opposedends of the pull rods B sothat the plurality of holes in the levers B and B give a relatively wide range of adjustment between the two levers.

Pivoted on the flanges A are a series of selecting shutters. These shutters comprise channels 0., each channel having welded or otherwise attached to the outer central portion thereof adjacent one side pivot arms C which are offset from the axis of the shutter and termimate in pin bearing extensions C These pin bearing extensions are engaged by pivot pins C in the fianges A so that each shutter is free to rock about an axis removed from the body thereof. The shutter channel is relatively wide and has two flanges, one wider than the other, the shorter one having a very gradual curvature so as to provide a curved contact face. Welded or otherwise attached to each shutter at some point between its ends is a shutter arm C it being understood that since there are a plurality of these shutters, the shutter arms for successive shutters are spaced along the shutter so as to be generally in line with the mechanism controlling that individual shutter. C is a tension rod between a perforation on the shutter arm and the free end of one of the bell crank levers B C is a resistance spring provided for the purpose of resisting rotation of the shutter in a counterclockwise direction as shown in Figure 1 under the influence of the typewriter key and for returning the shutter to the starting position after the key has caused its rotation. It will be understood that there is one shutter for each typewriter key, that the connecting mechanism between such typewriter key and the shutter is all in one generally vertical plane so that there is interposed between each shutter the series of pull bars, bell crank levers and push rods whereby depression of any typewriter key may cause a rotation of the associated shutter. It will be understood, of course, that the pull rods C are of varying length because the bell crank levers B are on the same axis and the shutters are spaced along the shutter bed, hence a longer or shorter member C is needed to connect each bell crank lever B with its associated shutter. The spring C comprises any suitable type of tension spring. It is anchored at one end on the "shutter lever C and at the other end on an anchorage frame C". This frame is mounted on the shutter bed above the plane of the shutters. This anchorage frame has one or more cross members which serve as one abutment or anchorage for the tension rod resistance spring combination 0 C The operator treats the typewriter in the usual customary manner. When he or she strikes the typewriter key the key bar moves down, engages the end of the push bar or plunger and moves it down. The spring holds the plunger in proper position in the guide comb and since the lower end of the plunger is pivoted on the end of the fiat bell crank lever, that lever rotates (referring to Figure 1) in a counterclockwise direction exerting a tension on the angular bell crank lever associated with the shutter bed and rotating it in a clockwise direction. This in turn rocks the shutter against the resistance of the spring and wire combination anchored on the abutment or anchorage frame so that every key in the typewriter controls the operation as it comes down of one of the shutters in the shutter bed.

The further links in the chain as above indicated, namely, the parts actuated by the rotation of the shutter, since they form no part of the invention herein claimed have been omitted.

It will benoted that the shutters extend clear across the width of the typewriter. The typewriter keys are distributed clear across the width of the typewriter bed but the combination of typewriter key, plunger, two bell cranks, connecting rods and the lever on the shutter are so arranged as all to be in the same general vertical plane located by the typewriter key bar. It

will be realized that whereas I have described and shown a practical and operative device, nevertheless many changes may be made in size, shape, number and disposition of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention. I Wish my description and drawings, therefore, to be taken as in a broad sense illustrative or diagrammatic rather than as limiting me to the precise structure herein shown. It will be realized, for example, that my invention is applicable not merely to type casting mechanisms but to mechanisms where type is selected for other purposes than for casting. Therefore, where in the claims I use the words for type casting machines and the like I wish this termto be interpreted with sufiicient latitude to include machines where type is selected for other purposes than for casting.

I claim:

1. A pattern forming mechanism for type casting machines and the like comprising an inclined supporting bed, a plurality of pivoted pattern selecting shutters arranged side by side thereon, a horizontal platform associated with the bed, a standard typewriter mounted thereon and a working connection between each shutter and a key of the typewriter whereby depression thereof causes rotation of the shutter.

2. A pattern forming mechanism for type casting machines and the like comprising an inclined supporting bed, a plurality of pivoted pattern selecting shutters arranged side by side thereon, a horizontal platform associated with the bed, a standard typewriter mounted thereon and a working connection between each shutter and a key of the typewriter whereby depression thereof causes rotation of the shutter, the connection being adjustable whereby the shutter excursion may be adjustable in relation to the typewriter key movement.

3. A pattern forming mechanism for type casting machines and the like comprising an inclined supporting bed, a plurality of pivoted pattern selecting shutters arranged side by side thereon, a horizontal platform associated with the bed, a standard typewriter mounted thereon and a working connection between each shutter and a key of the typewriter whereby depression thereof causes rotation of the shutter, the Working con nection comprising a pair of levers, a connection between the two levers and a connection between one lever of the pair and the shutter and between the other lever of the pair and the key.

4. A pattern forming mechanism for type casting machines and the like comprising an inclined supporting bed, a plurality of pivoted pattern selecting shutters arranged side by side thereon, a horizontal platform associated with the bed, a standard typewriter mounted thereon and a working connection between each shutter and a key of the typewriter whereby depression thereof causes rotation of the shutter, the working connection comprising a pair of levers, a connection between the two levers and a connection between one lever of the pair and the shutter and between the other lever of the pair and the key, the connection between the levers comprising a rod pivoted on each lever, the opposed lever arms having a plurality of holes whose distance from the pivot varies whereby the relation between them may be adjustable.

5. A pattern forming mechanism for type casting machines and the like comprising an inclined supporting bed, a plurality of pivoted pattern selecting shutters arranged side by side thereon, a horizontal platform associated with the bed, a

standard typewriter mounted thereon and a working connection between each shutter and a key of the typewriter whereby depression thereof causes rotation of the shutter, the working con- :nection comprising a pair of levers, a connection 'standard typewriter mounted thereon and a working connection between each shutter and a key of the typewriter whereby depression thereof causes rotation of the shutter, the working connection including a lever, a plunger pivotally supported thereon at one end and associated at the other end with the typewriter key and guide means adapted to maintain the plunger in work ing relation with the key irrespective of key and lever movement.

7. A pattern forming mechanism for type caste ing machines and the like comprising an inclined supporting bed, a plurality of pivoted pattern selecting shutters arranged side by side thereon, a horizontal platform associated with the bed, a standard typewriter mounted thereon and a working connection between each shutter and a key of the typewriter whereby depression thereof causes rotation of the shutter, the working connection including a lever, a plunger pivotally supported thereon at one end and associated at the other endwith the typewriter key and guide means adapted to maintain the plunger in working relation with the key irrespective of key and lever movement, said guide means comprising a slotted member through which the plunger is free to reciprocate and yielding means adapted to hold the plunger seated in the slot.

8. A pattern forming mechanism for type casting machines and the like comprising an inclined supporting bed, a plurality of pivoted pattern selecting shutters arranged side by side thereon, a horizontal platform associated with the bed, a standard typewriter mounted thereon and a working connection between each shutter and a key of the typewriter whereby depression thereof causes rotation of the shutter, the connection including a bell crank lever adjacent the supporting bed, a connection between one arm thereof and the shutter and a connection between the other arm of the lever inclined to the first mentioned connection and extending toward the typewriter.

9. A pattern forming mechanism tor type casting machines and the like comprising an inclined supporting bed, a plurality of pivoted pattern selecting shutters arranged side by side thereon, a horizontal platform associated with the bed, a standard typewriter mounted thereon and a working connection between each shutter and a key of the typewriter whereby depression thereof causes rotation of the shutter, yielding means adapted to resist the movement of the shutter in response to depression of the typewriter key, a lever rigidly mounted on the shutter upon which the yielding means and the operating connection both act, the lever arms through which they act being unequal.

10. A pattern forming mechanism for type casting machines and the like comprising an inclined supporting bed, a plurality of pivoted pattern selecting shutters arranged side by side thereon, a horizontal platform associated with the bed, a standard typewriter mounted thereon and a working connection between each shutter and a key of the typewriter whereby depression thereof causes rotation of the shutter, yielding means including a fixed abutment and a tension wire and spring interposed between the abutment and shutter for resisting movement of the shutter in response to depression of the typewriter key, a lever rigidly mounted on the shutter upon which the yielding means and the operating connection both act, the lever arms through which they act being unequal.

11. A pattern forming mechanism for type casting machines and the like comprising an inclined supporting bed, a plurality of pivoted pattern selecting shutters arranged side by side thereon, a horizontal platform associated with the bed, a standard typewriter mounted thereon and a working connection between each shutter and a key of the typewriter whereby depression thereof causes rotation of the shutter, yielding means including a fixed abutment and a tension wire and spring interposed between the abutment and shutter for resisting movement of the shutter in response to depression of the typewriter key, the abutment comprising a frame removably mounted on the supporting bed, having a plurality of diagonal members extending across the supporting bed in a plane adjacent and parallel with the plane occupied by the shutters.

12. In a pattern selecting mechanism, an inclined shutter bed, a plurality of shutters arranged parallel one to another therealong, and a typewriter horizontally supported at a point removed from the shutter bed and a working connection between each typewriter key and one of the shutters.

13. A pattern forming mechanism for type casting machines and the like comprising a supporting bed, a plurality of pivoted pattern selecting shutters arranged side by side thereon, a standard typewriter associated therewith, and a working connection between each shutter and the key of the typewriter whereby depression of the key causes rotation of the shutter, the connection being adjustable whereby the shutter excursion may be adjusted in relation to the typewriter key movement.

14. A pattern forming mechanism for type casting machines and the like comprising a supporting bed, a plurality of pivoted pattern selecting shutters arranged side by side thereon, a standard typewriter associated therewith and a working connection between each shutter and a key of the typewriter whereby depression of the key causes rotation of the shutter, such connection comprising a pair of levers, a connection between the two levers, a connection between one lever of the pair and the shutter, a connection between the other lever of the pair and the key.

15. A pattern forming mechanism for type casting machines and the like comprising a supporting bed, a plurality of pivoted pattern selecting shutters arranged side by side thereon, a standard typewriter associated therewith and a working connection between each shutter and a key of the typewriter whereby depression of the key causes rotation of the shutter, such connection comprising a pair of levers, a connection between the two levers, a connection between one lever of the pair and the shutter, a connection between the other lever of the pair and the key, the connection between the levers comprising a rod pivoted on each lever, the opposed lever arms having a plurality of holes whose distance varies whereby the relation between them is adjustable.

16. A pattern forming mechanism for type casting machines and the like comprising a supporting bed, a plurality of pivoted pattern selecting shutters arranged side by side thereon, a standard typewriter associated therewith and a working connection between each shutter and a key of the typewriter whereby depression thereof causes rotation of the shutter, such connection including a lever, a plunger pivotally supported thereon at one end and associated at the other end with the typewriter key and guide means adapted to maintain the plunger in working relation with the key irrespective of key and lever movement.

17. A pattern forming mechanism for type casting machines and the like comprising a supporting bed, a plurality of pivoted pattern selecting shutters arranged side by side thereon, a standard typewriter associated therewith and a working connection between each shutter and a key of the typewriter whereby depression thereof causes rotation of the shutter, such connection including a lever, a plunger pivotally supported thereon at one end and associated at the other end with the typewriter key and guide means adapted to maintain the plunger in working relation with the key irrespective of key and lever movement, said guide means comprising a slotted member through which the plunger is free to reciprocate and yielding means adapted to hold the plunger in the slot.

18. A pattern forming mechanism for type casting machines and the like comprising a supporting bed, a plurality of pivoted pattern selecting shutters arranged side by side thereon, a standard typewriter associated therewith and a Working connection between each shutter and a key of the typewriter whereby depression of the key causes rotation of the shutter, yielding means adapted to resist the movement of the shutter in response to a depression of the typewriter key and a lever rigidly mounted on the shutter, the yielding means and the operative connection being both adapted to work on said lever, the lever arms through which they act being unequal.

19. A pattern forming mechanism for type casting machines and the like comprising a supporting bed, a plurality of pattern selecting shutters arranged side by side thereon, a standard typewriter associated therewith and a working connection between each shutter and a key of the typewriter whereby depression of the key causes rotation of the shutter, yielding means including a fixed abutment and a tension wire and spring interposed between the abutment and the shutter for resisting movement of the shutter responsive to depression of the typewriter key, the abutment comprising a frame having a plurality of diagonal members extending across the supporting bed in a plane adjacent it and parallel with the plane of the shutters.

GEORGE HERBERT WHITE. 

